Minister Poots has announced an £150,000 Water Quality Improvement strand of the Environmental Challenge Fund Competition, to support water quality projects across Northern Ireland.
The Fund is available for not-for-profit organisations and Councils to deliver on water quality priorities across Northern Ireland. It is envisaged that the majority of grant awards will be between £5,000 and £20,000 and that the maximum amount of Government funding available under the competition will be 75% of eligible project costs.
The key areas for funding under the Water Quality Improvement strand are two priority areas namely– Water Quality Actions and Public Education & Awareness.
Water Quality Actions:
• Creation of habitat
• Preparation of River restoration plans
• Fish passage improvement
• Riparian management
• Pollution management / prevention measures
• Natural flood management measures
• Wetland creation to improve water quality/flooding resilience
Public education / awareness:
- Community led awareness events with a water based theme
- Local waterbody leaflet / signage/ guide development
- Citizen science based river surveys
- Training workshops
- Local Pollution Prevention campaigns
The Department is currently managing a three/four-year Strategic Strand of the Environment Fund and this new Water Quality Improvement strand complements that.
Further information, including guidance notes and details of how you can apply for funding, can be found on the DAERA website at https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/environmental-challenge-competition-water-quality-improvement-strandhttps://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/environmental-challenge-competition-water-quality-improvement-strand. The closing date for applications is noon on 31st August 2020.
Should you have any queries, or would like to talk through any potential projects please contact your Catchment Officer, which you can do by replying to this email.
Many thanks
NIEA Catchment Team
